Hook-block assembly



April 18, 1961 s. w. LONG 2,980,400

HOOK-BLOCK ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 5, 1957 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.SPE/VCTEQ m Lave 55 52 mp g 55 m S. W. LONG HOOK-BLOCK ASSEMBLY April18, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 5, 1957 IN VEN TOR. 4 4 40/1/6- aApril 18, 1961 s. w. LONG HOOK-BLOCK ASSEMBLY 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledFeb. 5, 1957 FIG. 6.

HOOK-BLOCK ASSEMBLY Spencer W. Long, lnglewood, Calif., assignor, bymesne assignments, to Armco Steel Corporation, Middletown, Ohio, acorporation of Ohio FiledFeb. 5,1957, SenNo. 638,267

1 Claim. ((1254-1921 w This invention relates to apparatus of the typeused in the drilling of wells, and is particularly'directed' toimprovements in a hook-block assembly. Devices of this type are used inthe derrick or mast to support the load of the drill pipe or casing, andfor other purposes. This invention relates to improvements over theconstruction disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,661,232, grantedDecember 1, 1953, for Drilling Hook Assembly.

It is an important object of this invention to provide an improved formof gimbal connection for supporting a spring hook from a travelingblock. Such a device permits a close coupling of the traveling block andspring hook for minimum overall length, while at the same timepermitting universal swiveling movement between the block and the hook.In this way the traveling block may cant slightly as it rises and fallsin the derrick or mast without imparting this canting movement to thespring hook. Accordingly, the tendency for the lower end of the hook toswing from side to side as the block cants in one direction or the otheris greatly reduced.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved tongueconstruction for closing the hook opening. A tongue is provided with abail-receiving notch surface which extends for the full width of thehook body. In this way, there are no sharp edges of the hook body ortongue presented to the bail of the swivel which is received in thenotch. Accordingly, damage to the bail is prevented and deformation ofclose-fitting relatively movable parts of the body and tongue isavoided.

Other and more detailed objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation partly in section, showing a preferredembodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation taken substantially on the lines2-2 as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the tongue of the spring hook, shownon an enlarged scale.

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken substantially onthe lines 4-4 as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the rotation lockassembly and adjoining parts taken substantially on the lines 55 asshown in Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the rotation lock assembly takensubstantially on the lines 6-6 as shown in Figure 5, the parts being inlocking position.

Figure 7 is a sectional view similar to Figure 6, the parts being inretracted position.

Figure 8 is an end view of the left hand end of Figure 5.

Figure 9 is an end view of the right hand end of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings, the traveling block generally designated 10includes a pair of side plates 11 and 12 supporting a stationary shaft13 which extends between them. A plurality of cable sheaves 14 are eachrotatably mounted on the shaft 13 by means of suitable bearings (notshown). A cap 15 extends between the upper ends Patented Apr. 18, 19621of a bolt 16. Similarly a spacer 17 extends between the side plates113ml 12 at, alocation below the sheaves 14 and this spacer is held inplace by means of bolts 18.

Cable gnards19 may be detachably connected to the cap 15'and spacer 17.

The spring hook generally designated 20 is connected to the travelingblock 10, by means of an improved form of gimb al connection 21embodying my invention. Ihemember 22 base. p r of pp y extending eeeX-ial trunnions 23 which project from faces 22a and 22b which abut theinner surfaces of the side plates 11 and 12. These trunnions 23 arereceived within aligned bushings 24provided inside plates lland 12 belowthe lower extremitiesofthe sheaves 14. Themember 22 carries. a headedcross pin 25 whichhas an axis which intersects the axis of the trunnions23 at right angles. The loadcarrying shank 26 of the hook. assembly 20has an eye portion 27. on itsupper end which is supported on the pin25.The eye portion 27 extends into a recess 28 provided in the member 22. Abushing 29 may beprovided withinthe eyefor contacting the pin 25. A nut30 holds the pin 25 in position and a key 22a welded to member 22prevents itfrom turning. The trunnions 23 and the cross pin 25, inelfect provide gimbals permitting the shank 26 to have universalmovement with respect to the traveling block 10.

The spring hook 20 has a nut 31 threaded to the lower endof'the shank 26and a bearing assembly 32 is supported on this nut 31, The lower ends ofthe compression springs 33 and 34 are supported on bearingassembly 32.The upper ends of these springs engage the shoulder35' on the housing36. When the springs are compressed, shoulder 37 on housing 36 rests onbearing assembly 32, A skirt 38 shrunk on the shank 26 enclosesthe upperend of the housing 36 in telescopic relationship. The main hook body 39is connected to the housing 36" by threads 40. A recess 41 is formed inthe hook body 39 to provide clearance for the nut 31. A rotation lockring 42 is rotatably held between housing 36 and body 39 and has aslidable connection with the axial keyway 43 formed on the outer surfaceof the nut 31. Recesses 44 are provided in the under surface of the ring42 and these recesses are adapted to be engaged by a locking pawl 65, asdescribed below, for the purpose of preventing rotation between the hookbody 39 and the shank 26. A bar 45 acts as a key to prevent unscrewingof the nut 31 with respect to the shank 26.

Side notches 46 are provided on the hook body 39 for the purpose ofsupporting the elevator links (not shown), as will be readily understoodby those skilled in the art. The side notches 46 may be closed by meansof the links 47 to retain the elevator links in place. The main loadsupporting notch 48 in the hook body 39 is closed by means of the tongue49 which is pivotally connected to the hook body 39 by means of thepivot pin 50. The pivot pin 50 passes through the bore 51 in the tongue49.

The tongue 49 has a relatively narrow central section 52 which isreceived within a cooperating groove 53 formed on the hook body 39. Thetongue has a relatively wide crowned surface 54 in the form of a doublecurved saddle for reception of the swivel bail (not shown). This saddlesurface 54 is convex in the central vertical plane parallel to the axisof pin 50 and concave in the 5 central vertical plane normal to the axisof the pin 50.

as shown in Figure' Z this latch'56 engaged by the spring-urged plunger57. An

1 This cage60 carries alatch shaft 62 ,and a pawl shaft 63, each ofwhich is mounted tofturn inlthe cage, 60.

A pawl 655-is fixed'onf-the pawl shaftr63 and this A nut 64 holds, thecage 60 in position against disassenimeans may include the pivoted I 4L1 1 a a a Havingfully described my invention, it is to be understoodthat I do not wi'shto be limited to the details pawl is adapted toengage the recesses 4411111111: lock ring 42.' 'A torsion spring66.aets, to turn the pawl shaft 63 in a direction to extend'the-pawl65.- A pawl operating lever, 67 islfixed o n one endof the pawl shaft 63in orderto. retract ,the pawl 65 against the action of the torsionspring 166. A torsion spring 68 acts on the latch shaft 6210 turn it ina clockwise direction as viewed in Figures ,6 and 7. A latch 69 fixed onthe shaft 62 is adaptedto engage an abutment 70 formed on thepawlf65. Alatch operating lever 71 is fixed on the projecting end of the latchshaft 62. Actuation of the lever' 71 serves toturn the latching shaft 62in a counterclockwise direction as 'viewed'in Figures 6 and 7. 30

From thedescription, it will be understood that actuationof the-lever 67serves to-tur'nithe pawl shaft 63 in a direction to retract the pawl 65from the position r show'n in, Figure 6 to the position shown in'Figure7. The spring68 then moves the latch 69 into position to engage theshoulder 70 on the pawl 65. This serves to latch the pawl 65 .inretracted position. 1 The hook body 39 isrthen free to turn with respectto the shank 26. Actuation of the lever 71 moves the latch 69 out of thepath of movement of the shoulder 70 with the result that the spring 66swings the pawl 65 into the extended position shown in Figure 16 toengage one of the recesses 44 ofthelockringfl. 1 r

'upon said shank. 7

herein set forth, but my invention is of the full scope of the appendedclaim.

'I claim: I a

In a hook-block assembly, the combination-of: a traveling blockhaving'parallehsidelplates defining the side boundaries of said blockapluralitygof sheaves rotatably supported between said plates, saidplates projecting below the lower portions of said sheaves and beingprovided with aligned apertures, amember positioned between the lowerends of, said plates and having faces abutting the inner surfaces ofsaid plates, said member having a pair oflcoaxial oppositelyextendinghorizontal trunnions projecting fronrsaid faces and pivotally mounted insaid apertures, said member having a central recess, a spring hookassembly having a housing positioned below the said member and having ahook element fixed thereto saigl housing being-larger than the recess insaid member, a load carrying shank within saidrhousing and extending':upwardly into 'saidrecess, said shank having a transverse opening, 'ahorizontal cross pin mountedrup'on said member and extending throughsaid transverse opening to pivotallysupport said shank, and meansincluding. a'spring within the ,housing and encirclingtsaid Ishank -forsupporting the housing 'Reterenees Cited in the file of this patent I v1 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 'Wrig ht May 21, 1929 2,331,341" Nicholsonet a]; Oct. 12, 1943 2,613,101 Roberson Oct. 7, 1952 2,681,794 JohnsonJune 22, 1954 2,778,602 Fate 'Jan. 22, 1957 2,820,624 Koe e1' Jan. 21,1958 V V 1 YFQREIVGNPATENTS 7 143,419 Austria,. Novpll, 1935

